Liverpool will make a late fitness check on striker Michael Owen ahead of tonight's crucial Champions League Clash with Italian champions Roma at Anfield.

England hitman Owen is once again being troubled by a hamstring injury with his side needing to beat the Group B leaders to have any chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

Roma have hit form at the right time having moved back to the summit of Serie A thanks to Vincenzo Montella, who has bagged six goals in two games including four against Lazio in the Rome derby.

The Reds must win at least 2-0 and hope that Barcelona and Galatasaray draw in Turkey to have a realistic chance of progressing in the competition.

Owen is Liverpool's main goal threat especially in the absence of Nicolas Anelka who cannot play in the Champions League having already played for Paris St Germain, but they will not risk their top-scorer unless he is fully fit.

If Owen misses out then the Reds are likely to link Emile Heskey up with Jari Litmanen while young Czech striker Milan Baros will be on the bench.

Dietmar Hamann will definitely miss the match through suspension.

Steven Gerrard will return to the midfield alongside Danny Murphy and believes the club can go on and win the Barclaycard Premiership if they secure victory tonight.

Gerrard said: "If we overcome Roma it will give us a massive boost and the confidence we need to go on and win the Premier League.

"Roma are a great side and are always capable of scoring a goal on the counter-attack. We have the utmost respect for them but we have every confidence that we can get the right result."

Juan Sebastian Veron will miss Manchester United's clash with Boavista in Portugal tonight amid feels that he has broken a bone in his heel.

Veron was left behind in Manchester as the squad travelled to Oporto and if the fracture is confirmed he is likely to be out for a month, missing both legs of the prospective quarter-final.

United need to win tonight to be sure of finishing as Group A winners to avoid favourites Real Madrid and set up an easier quarter-final, but they must do it without Veron and the injured Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Van Nistelrooy, joint top-scorer in the Champions League has a groin injury, while skipper Roy Keane will also miss the match due to a hip injury.

Former Boro target Diego Forlan is set to make his first Champions League start for United following his move from Argentine side Independiente.

Forlan will line up alongside Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who is enjoying his best season in a United shirt after being given a run in the side.

Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes will deputise in the midfield for Veron and Keane with Ryan Giggs likely to take over as skipper.